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(No Model.)

W. G. REED. ELEGT RIG ALARM FOR LETTER BOXES.

No. 424,219. Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESLY G. REED, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ELECTRIC ALARM FOR LETTER-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,219, dated March 25, 1890.

Application filed December 28, 1889. Serial No. 335,208. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, \VESLY G. -REED, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Toronto, in the county of York and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Alarms for Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric alarms for letterboxes; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of a letter-box connected in an electric circuit, and of a peculiar way of closing that circuit Whenever a letter is inserted into the box by opening the lid; and, further, in the peculiar combination of a pushbutton with the letter-box, whereby the bell may be rung independent of the operation of theletter-box; and, further, in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section through my improved letter-box. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the interior, showing the operating parts.

A is a casing of any suitable shape or size, which has in its front side the swinging door B, pivoted at its lower edge, and which when open allows the mail to be removed from the interior of the box. This door is provided with a suitable lock 0. I preferably make the top D of the box curved, as shown, and of metal, insulating it from the remainder of the box. I pivot the lid E to fill the usual letter-slot, and hold it normally in a closed position by means of the coil-spring F, sleeved upon the pivot-pin of the lid.

G is a gravity-stop pivotally supported near the top of the box with the curved side aarranged in the path of the lid E and its lower end with the shoulder 19 to prevent the lid from opening too far.

I is the electric circuit, in which is a suitable battery J and bell K. One terminal 0 of the circuit is connected to the metal top D, While the other terminal d is connected to the gravity-stop G.

The parts being thus constructed, they are intended to operate as follows: The postman to insert a letter into the box must first open the lid by pressing it inward and downward, when its inner edge will strike against the curved sides a of the gravity-stop, thereby completing the electric circuit from the top D to the gravity-stop G and ring the alarm. As soon as he releases his hold of the lid it will be returned by the spring F to its normal position.

L is a push-button arranged in the top D directly above the gravity-stop G, normally held out of contact therewitlnbut which may be depressed to make contact therewith and complete the electric circuit independent of the movement of the lid, which may be used to act in place of the ordinary push-button connected to an independent electric circuit for a door-bell.

As soon as the alarmis rung the owner may gain access to the box by unlocking the lock 0 and opening the door B, which gives access to the interior of the box. Thus I comprise in a single device an electric alarm for a letter -box which will operate whenever anything is put into the letter-box, and also an alarm for a door-bell connection in the same circuit.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a letter-box having an insulated top forming one terminal of an electric circuit, a weighted stop below the top forming the other terminal of the circuit, and a spring-actuated metal lid hinged in the top and arranged to come in direct contact with the stop, substantially as described.

2. In a letter-box, the casing, a metal top insulated from the casing and forming a terminal for an electric circuit comprising an alarm, a lid in said top, a stop arranged in the path of the lid and forming the other terminal of said contact, and a contact-such as the push-button L-adapted to close the circuit independently ofthe operation of the lid, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses, this 28th day of 1 November, 1880.

WESLY G. REED. Witnesses:

II. ELDRIDGE, A. Ii. BRINTNELL. 

